Eons ago, before humans first gathered their wits and formed their first governances, two ancient empires of dwarves and elves fought for the continent. While none living remember the names of these two empires, the war has had an everlasting effect on the continent. The hubris of the elves brought upon the Spellburn, reducing the lifespans of arcane spellcasters, and forever tainting them with the marks of the Spellburn. Dwarven warmachines reshaped the earth, leveling mountains, forests, and land masses alike. Ruins of both kinds dot Rosarius, with ancient artifacts and ancient guardians sealed behind the doors of the long dead empires. And for centuries after, war was the language of Rosarius.

Slowly, the world rebuilt from its war and anarchy. The world continued to heal from ancient wounds… until a war that shook the continent once more arrived. Tavaniria and Luirenmere joined forces and Albia and Asalgard were quickly invaded. The war pushed hard against each side, both gave ground, lost ground and near the entire continent was dragged into the focus of war.

Then came what is known as “The Dark Tide.” On that infamous day, without any warning, the land literally exploded as portals burst open and undead spilled from without. Military commanders sat stunned, their soldiers slaughtered, until they began to push back the Tide together, losing interest in those who were their nemesis a moment ago. When they had finally beaten back the undead and stopped the sources of power that held the portals active, the word came back that there was chaos in the homelands, and armies retreated inwards, purging vile undead from their lands, and with it, ending a continental war. With the land ravaged and hundreds upon thousands dead, blame was thrown upon everyone, anger reached an all time high; but with armies weak and near decimated, another war was impossible.

The Dark Tide is twenty years behind you, and in that time prosecution of mages heightened, national relations became deathly caustic, but the world isn’t dead. Rosarius survived it. In this fractured and healing world, you’ve heard the call of adventure. Write your story, become a legend, and do what makes you a hero.

Ah! Also, if you want you can download the other sourcebooks within the folder, it's just that PHB is the only one players need.

If you want, you can roll for your stats using 4d4. (Forum code {roll}4d4{/roll}) Rolling stats is not required, nor does it change what points you have to allocate. It's just a way to "randomize" your stats if you don't like the pick-and-choose style of a point-buy. Just in case you didn't read Deeox's:

[Apr 04, 2016, 03:59:45 pm]: Duke Rockhopper laughs! The creator has forbidden the character be used in ships. That's like telling a kid with a stick not to hit someone with itDuke Rockhopper [Apr 04, 2016, 03:59:55 pm]: People are gonna get hit with sticksGeocorn [Sep 12, 2016, 01:41:44 pm]: skipping class is as american as calling football soccer

Spoiler

Jynx: I mentioned that if Bea failed as a Maid, she'd force herself to be a housewife. /// WoolyShambler: Lucky Lola; looks like she'll have a live-in bedwarmer at the Lyceum /// Rev: Wasnt that Knat's job tho? /// WoolyShambler: I meant Bea /// Lola Lang would be happy enough to have both Bea and Knat in her bed each night

I would like to know more about the setting. Much, MUCH more. Major cities, culture, religion, technology level, races, society, details on arcane discrimination, are divine casters revered, that sort of thing. This is important so I can integrate my character into the world and also get some more ideas for myself.

Uhm, while I'm not super-interested in RPing, some of the ideas have picked my interest. However, I really don't know how busy I will be this year, and Maid RPG is most certainly my priority. How much time do we have to make our characters? (I know you've said you won't start until either Adeva or MRPG end, but how much time we'll have for making the character?)

Logged

Why can only the evil have empires, power and majestic theme music? I reclaim the possibility of creating the Federal-democratic-free Empire! A (democratic) tyranny fueled by the Power of Love!

[Apr 04, 2016, 03:59:45 pm]: Duke Rockhopper laughs! The creator has forbidden the character be used in ships. That's like telling a kid with a stick not to hit someone with itDuke Rockhopper [Apr 04, 2016, 03:59:55 pm]: People are gonna get hit with sticksGeocorn [Sep 12, 2016, 01:41:44 pm]: skipping class is as american as calling football soccer

Spoiler

Jynx: I mentioned that if Bea failed as a Maid, she'd force herself to be a housewife. /// WoolyShambler: Lucky Lola; looks like she'll have a live-in bedwarmer at the Lyceum /// Rev: Wasnt that Knat's job tho? /// WoolyShambler: I meant Bea /// Lola Lang would be happy enough to have both Bea and Knat in her bed each night

I would like to know more about the setting. Much, MUCH more. Major cities, culture, religion, technology level, races, society, details on arcane discrimination, are divine casters revered, that sort of thing. This is important so I can integrate my character into the world and also get some more ideas for myself.

Uhm, while I'm not super-interested in RPing, some of the ideas have picked my interest. However, I really don't know how busy I will be this year, and Maid RPG is most certainly my priority. How much time do we have to make our characters? (I know you've said you won't start until either Adeva or MRPG end, but how much time we'll have for making the character?)

All the time in the world. We don't have a set date for even a Session 0/Prologue, so as long as you're embroiled in WoolRPG you should be fine. Unless AdEva finishes before then and we need to submit to the will of the Hyperspace...

I would like to know more about the setting. Much, MUCH more. Major cities, culture, religion, technology level, races, society, details on arcane discrimination, are divine casters revered, that sort of thing. This is important so I can integrate my character into the world and also get some more ideas for myself.

About Religion:Religion in Rosarius is focused on the Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms pantheons, with the non-human deities being more prominent for their respective races. How a certain god may be worshipped in different nations largely depends on how that nation views that god’s portfolio (that which the god has dominion over). As such, a god of war would be more prominent in Tavaniria, but little worshiped in the Dagger Coast, while a god of travel would be worshiped in Razfar and not much seen in Luirenmere.

About Divine hero-worship:Divine casters aren't "revered" by everyone, but in a sense they are the protectors against those most affected by the Spellburn, especially in Tavaniria. Holy men from a particular church or practice may be given respect from others, but outside of that church they’re just scions for a god, or a mouthpiece for them.

About Arcane Discrimination:

Spoiler

In Tavaniria, the general populace fears the arcane, and Templars seek out arcane casters within their borders regularly. Any that are found or turned in are either taken to the Order to be sanctioned, or executed for resisting. Within Luirenmere, the arcane is still very much an important thing. Bladedancers and powerful mages have always been a staple of their military and nobility, and the Spellburn merely makes them more proud of their powers. In Albia, one may expect to find a Wizard as an advisor to a nobleman, or a Bard traveling throughout the courts and towns. While, like in Tavaniria, the arcane is feared, the country itself is far less draconic about prosecuting it.Asalgard has an enmity against arcane casters not because of the Spellburn or fear, but because of the ages-old grudge against the elves and Luirenmere, who so covet and use the arcane for their own designs. It's more going against tradition than an outright taboo, but the two are closely linked.Razfar actually holds the least discriminatory tendencies, but no real arcane academic institutions exist within the nation. Hedge witches and the like are common as doctors and fortune tellers. In a way, magic is very common, but not as an advanced or exotic a practice. As for the nationstates of the Dagger Coast, they're the ones with the greatest presence of Free Mages. While the nations bordering Albia and Tavaniria will be more wary of the arcane, those further from them and closer to Luirenmere will have more of an open mind to it.

About Tech:The technology level is approximately Feudal Europe, coming out of the Dark Ages. Asalgard has created magi- and steam- tech stuff that they've largely lost the knowledge to create, such as Warforged. It's also not rare to hear of an aspiring tinker to have recreated such technology of the past, either through study of aged documents and tomes or sheer happenstance. Artifacts from the old times are in the hands of the powerful or the adventurous.

About Society and Cities:

Spoiler

The society of Tavaniria is a highly structured, almost military meritocracy. The Empress Alexandria is the most powerful woman in Tavaniria, and thus garners the respect of her subjects. Social mobility is only limited by what power you exert, though it’s a very human-centric and pro-human society as a whole. Culturally, most of the artistic vigor of Tavaniria is funneled into great epics both fictional and non-fictional, to preserve the greatness of the time.Tavaniria’s capitol is Catarina.Albia is much more a traditional feudal state, with a king or queen having a hereditary title, and then nobles and such below them, following because the land belongs to the King. As such the social mobility is more rigid than in Tavaniria, but there are opportunities if one looks for them. Albia has a tendency to produce grand portraits, that may be painted on structures, canvas, or anywhere one may see.Albia’s capitol is Lakinberg, situated on the coast of Albia. The Luirenmere Dominion is a militaristic dictatorship, where there is a single Domineer who leads the country and has final say in any matter. Under them are noble ranks which double as military generals or specialists in the divine and arcane. Social mobility is almost always tied to military advancement, though politicking one’s way up the chain is a common story. Despite this, Luirenmere is rich culturally, with both ancient plays and lyrical musics which persist to this day.The capitol of Luirenmere is Alyesnora.Asalgard has a Council of Clans, functioning as an oligarchic representative democracy. While each clan sends a representative to the council, chosen by the clan, those clans who are the most powerful or have the most resources have more or even final say in matters. Social mobility is largely dictated by how skilled you are at a trade or practice and age, rather than how well-spoken you are. Culturally, Asalgard is adept at stonework and architecture, their arts mostly depicted as murals and bas-relief within their structures. There is also a heavy basis on tradition, and doing things as they’ve been done.The capitol of Asalgard is Val Balour, where the Council of Clans meets. The Razfar Empire is bicameral, with an Emperor who handles executive matters of state and a Senate who handles legislature. Only citizens of the Empire may serve in the Senate, and those who run for the Senate are usually wealthy merchants. Your class in Razfar is largely determined by how good of a trader you are, though the military is also respected, as the Orc tribes constantly threaten the east and pirates attack trading ships. Becoming a full citizen of Razfar is also particularly difficult, as you must either serve in active military service or become sponsored by a Senator or the Emperor. While accepting of other cultures due to their trading tendencies, Razfarian culture is highly exotic to others on Rosarius, with spices and fabrics from them being quite highly valued.The capitol of Razfar is Rajnan.The Dagger Coast has a smattering of different governments, from monarchies to democracies. Those by the coasts focus more on democratic systems, while those further inland are influenced by the larger nations and have more authoritarian systems. Culturally diverse, the Dagger Coast is where all the major powers’ ideals come to rest, along with many of their ideas of art, architecture, and philosophy.The largest and most prominent city on the Coast is Portsway, located on the coast. There is also Casavir, located further north and west.

Races are described in the Lore document, but generally it's as so:

Races

Humans are ubiquitous, and the most populous of races. They’re relatively short-lived, but create and do a lot with that time.Gnomes and Halflings find their places in the spaces humans don’t have the room to live. Gnomes are generally tricksters and tinkers, while halflings, with a bit of work, can become thieves and brokers of great caliber.Elves are usually insular to Luirenmere, or to their Sidhe tribe, and while long-lived they are deeply affected by the Spellburn.Dwarves are clannish within their mountains. They generally don’t stray far from the stones they call home, and they focus on themselves and their grudges more than any aspirations.Dragonborn are very tribal, though it’s not unheard of to have a Dragonborn become prominent as a military figure or arcane advisor in a nation.Half-elves are even rarer than ever, as the elves are not only snooty, but insular, as said. Though past this, half-elves will find themselves with cold reception from their elven heritage and oddity from their human.Half-orcs are seen as brutes and savages, though can find trust and a place within a society, should they earn it. Though they most commonly earn such acceptance through might...Tieflings are near unanimously feared and shunned, not only for their dark lineage but because they also represent a connection to the Spellburn.Aasimar are seen as gifts from the heavens by some of the more zealous folk, but on a whole Aasimar aren’t treated much differently than half-elves or Dragonborn.Goliaths and Aarakocra live apart from the other races, residing on the tops of mountains as opposed to the Dwarves living under them. They coexist with a bit of friction, and generally keep to themselves.Warforged are an ancient technology that the Dwarves have long forgotten how to create. Most have been reawoken fairly recently, though rumors abound that some have been wandering the continent since the ancient days of the Elven-Dwarven war.Changelings are creatures born from a tryst with a doppelganger, and it’s well-known that they exist within Rosarius. While only they can choose to reveal their true form, most find themselves coveted as assassins and spies because of their natural skills.Shifters are a queer race that are a derivation of a werecreature. Usually created from the meeting of a werecreature and a human, they’re found most commonly in the tribes outside of societal bounds.Genasi are odd in how they may be created: they can be created in many ways. The only thing common throughout the creation of a Genasi is that a being from the Material Plane interacted with an Elemental Plane. Whether it may be from a human mating with an efreet or a wild flash of magic turning a baby’s skin to metal, these beings are scions of elemental power. In conservative parts of Rosarius, they’re seen almost like Tieflings, but closer to the borders and the wilds they’re less leery.

Svirfneblin aren’t much seen by those of the surface world. Those who venture upwards are given the odd look by those who don’t know what they are, but as a whole they go largely unnoticed, much like their cousins.

There are more races than these, but they’re generally monsters, and have a place within the world. If you should find a race you want to play, link the source to it and we’ll discuss it in greater detail.